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Leadership, as I’ve seen it from boardrooms to campaign buses, begins with ownership. When a budget overruns or a supply chain snarls, the question isn’t “Who gets blamed?” but “What gets fixed before close of business?” Customers, voters, and employees detect deflection quicker than a market dip, and credibility evaporates just as fast. Step to the mic, state the miss, outline a concrete recovery plan, and you purchase something priceless: trust. Once people trust you with bad news, they’ll back you on bold goals.

Ownership unlocks speed. Teams drown when approvals pile up like sandbags. Clear a lane: delegate decision rights, set measurable milestones, and post the scoreboard where everyone sees it. Data, not rumor, decides whether to pivot or press on. When top performers watch their metrics rise because bureaucracy shrank, they double down. Those in the middle spot a path powered by contribution rather than politics, and a performance culture catches fire.

Accountability without optimism is a ledger with no investment column. After the fix sticks, paint the next horizon: a new market, a greener footprint, a product that delights rather than merely ships. Ask frontline people to pressure-test the vision; their reality checks will save millions and deepen buy-in. Six months later, hand them the mic, analyst, machinist, and city volunteer, and let them narrate the win. Results matter, but shared pride keeps the flywheel spinning long after slide decks fade.

Walk rows today, ask one question to spark curiosity, share a tool that eases toil, leave hand, trusting tomorrow’s harvest grows richer through care!

Pile rigs rolled onto Milwaukee’s riverfront this week as Neutral broke ground on The Edison, a 31-story, 378-unit hybrid mass-timber tower slated to deliver in early 2027. The $300 million job, backed by a $133 million Bank OZK loan and TIF support, will top Ascent to become North America’s tallest timber residence.

Eight concrete floors give way to 23 levels of cross-laminated-timber columns and floor panels sourced from Austria’s Wiehag, trimming four months off the schedule and cutting embodied carbon by 45 %. Hartshorne Plunkard and Forefront threaded ducts through timber chases, exposing warm wood ceilings beside triple-pane glass.

Yet supply and labor strains linger: Only two US mills can press panels at Edison’s scale, and a Midwest crane-operator shortage has already nudged topping out to September 2026. Still, analysts say the riverfront build, aided by new 2025 IBC timber provisions, could unlock similar high-rise projects in Chicago, Austin, and beyond in the coming years.

California’s high-speed rail scored its steadiest cash pledge when Gov. Gavin Newsom’s May 14 budget revision proposed extending cap-and-trade to 2045 and guaranteeing at least $1 billion annually. The flat floor replaces a fickle 25 percent carve-out, giving planners certainty to finish the 171-mile Merced–Bakersfield starter line and advance Bay Area and LA tunnels.

Stable money lets long-lead bids for track, power, and 220 mph trains go out in 2026. Crews have already poured concrete on 25 viaducts, set girders over the Fresno River, and graded a 10-mile test strip slated for trial runs by 2029. Environmental teams aim to clear Palmdale–Burbank and San José–Gilroy by 2027.

Backers say the guarantee unlocks federal grants, draws private equity, and adds 20,000 jobs, cutting LA–bay trips to under three hours by the mid-2030s. Skeptics warn that total costs could still exceed $128 billion and divert auction revenue from transit and wildfire defense. Lawmakers must decide by June 15.

The International Code Council’s vote on May 10 locked in the 2027 IECC, the first model code to insist that every new home be EV- and heat-pump ready. It mandates a 40-amp 240-volt garage circuit, a 30-amp outlet at the water heater spot, and a capped chase from panel to roof for future solar wiring.

Production builders scrambled. Pulte added a $1,250 “future-proof” kit with larger panels, thicker copper, and the new receptacles, guessing bulk buys cut cost to $900 by winter. Meritage Homes said the prewire saves nine retrofit hours. Midwestern wholesalers report 34 % jumps in NEMA 14-50 orders; copper futures ticked up 2 %.

Gas utilities argue the rule nudges customers to switch to electric before the grid is clean enough. Yet advocates note it adds only 0.3% to build cost while avoiding pricey panel swaps later. NAHB wants an alternate path for small infill lots, but cities like Seattle signal they will require full electric appliances outright. RMI sees half of single-family starts EV-ready by 2029.

Introduction
Good morning, Team! Today's toolbox talk highlights the importance of preventing concrete burns. Due to its alkaline properties, fresh concrete can cause severe skin injuries.

Why It Matters
Concrete burns can result in painful skin damage, infections, and scarring, potentially causing long-term harm if untreated.

Strategies to Prevent Concrete Burns

Discussion Questions

Conclusion
Preventing concrete burns is critical for your health and safety. Always use PPE, wash promptly, and report injuries quickly.

Stay protected, avoid concrete burns!